Strategic defense professional Stephen M. Timms is an executive with the International Golden Group. Outside of work, Stephen M. Timms enjoys cooking Italian food. Traditional Italian meals are composed of five different courses that work together to provide one hearty meal.

1. By Stephen M Timms

2. Introduction
 Strategic defense professional Stephen M. Timms is an
executive with the International Golden Group. Outside of
work, Stephen M. Timms enjoys cooking Italian food.
Traditional Italian meals are composed of five different
courses that work together to provide one hearty meal.
A traditional Italian meal begins with an antipasti dish.
Antipasti translates to “appetizers” in English, and the
dishes typically consist of a collection of cured meats,
cheeses, and olives. This course is meant to stave off hunger
as diners await the main course.
The next course, the primi piatti, usually consists of a
serving of pasta in a form like gnocchi or risotto.

3. Traditional Italian Meal
 This differs from the main course, the secondi piatti, in
that the main dish is usually meat-based. The main course
could rely on fish, pork, or beef, or less common meats
such as quail and goat.
Though the contorno course is not typically served in
traditional Italian restaurants, an authentic home-cooked
meal will include this course, which is made up of
vegetable sides that accompany the secondi piatti. After all
meat, pasta, and vegetables have been enjoyed, an
authentic Italian meal will conclude with a dolce course in
which dessert is served. Cannolis, tiramisu, and Italian
gelato are among the more popular Italian desserts enjoyed
at the end of meals.